Natural Health: I've been getting tonsillitis since my teens — what can I do to prevent it?

From gargling with salt water to sage tea, manuka honey and zinc... here are some handy ways to try prevent tonsil infection in the first place

The tonsils are the first line of defence against bacteria which is airborne or present in foods, so taking steps to prevent the infection in the first place is a great place to start. Picture: PA Photo/thinkstockphotos

I’ve been getting tonsillitis since my teens, mostly during the winter. Sometimes, gargling with water helps, but other times, I need an antibiotic. What can I do to ensure I don’t get the infection in the first place?

The tonsils are the first line of defence against bacteria which is airborne or present in foods, so taking steps to prevent the infection in the first place is a great place to start. The mineral zinc is one of the best preventative measures for any type of throat infection. Zinc, specifically in the form of Zinc gluconate, is particularly useful in dealing with throat and respiratory issues and can help prevent repeat bouts of tonsillitis.